Whale entanglement

The Santa Barbara Channel is a critical stop-over for migrating whales. Unfortunately, whales can become entangled in fishing gear and marine debris, often resulting in added stress, and in some cases mortality.
Number of confirmed reports of large whales, including humpback, gray, and blue whales entangled in fishing gear, ropes and other sources along the U.S. West Coast from 2000 to 2019. Graph from NOAA Fisheries 2019 West Coast Whale Entanglement Summary Report. Last updated April 2020. In the legend, color represents the different species of whales and “n” represents the total number of that species confirmed entangled in the study period. Of the 46 confirmed whale entanglements, 30 were reported off California, 6 of which originated from southern California (Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties). However, the location where entangled animals are observed and reported does not necessarily reflect where and when the entanglement originated. Figure credit: D. Lawson/NMFS WCRO PRD.

Number of confirmed reports of large whales, including humpback, gray, and blue whales entangled in fishing gear, ropes and other sources along the U.S. West Coast from 2000 to 2019. Graph from NOAA Fisheries 2019 West Coast Whale Entanglement Summary Report. Last updated April 2020. In the legend, color represents the different species of whales and “n” represents the total number of that species confirmed entangled in the study period. Of the 46 confirmed whale entanglements, 30 were reported off California, 6 of which originated from southern California (Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties). However, the location where entangled animals are observed and reported does not necessarily reflect where and when the entanglement originated. Figure credit: D. Lawson/NMFS WCRO PRD.

Click for Details Annual number of large whale entanglements reported along the U.S. West Coast. Reports of entanglements have increased in recent years. Factors contributing to this trend likely include an increasing overlap of whale activities (e.g., migrating, feeding) with human activities that have the potential to entangle whales (e.g., fishing, buoy installation) and an increase in on-the-water observers likely to report entangled individuals (e.g., whale watching, recreational boating). Confirmed entanglements from 2000 to 2019 of gray and humpback whales include 11 from Santa Barbara and two from Ventura counties. For more information, consult Figure App.C.4.10b in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.

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Overlap with Fishing
Blue
A map showing the risk posed to blue whales from 11 fixed gear fisheries (a type of commercial fishing) in the Southern California Bight. Figure credit: Saez et al. 2013.

A map showing the risk posed to blue whales from 11 fixed gear fisheries (a type of commercial fishing) in the Southern California Bight. Figure credit: Saez et al. 2013.

Click for Details Co-occurrence score (risk) based on multi-year average whale density and fishing effort for 11 fisheries is shown for quarters three (Q3) and four (Q4) for blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus). In Santa Barbara from July to December, there is an elevated risk area for multiple whale species with the California halibut/white seabass set gillnet, hagfish trap, rock crab trap, sablefish, spiny lobster trap, and spot prawn trap fisheries. For more information, consult Figure App.C.4.11a in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.

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Fin
A map showing the risk posed to fin whales from 11 fixed gear fisheries (a type of commercial fishing) in the Southern California Bight. Figure credit: Saez et al. 2013.

A map showing the risk posed to fin whales from 11 fixed gear fisheries (a type of commercial fishing) in the Southern California Bight. Figure credit: Saez et al. 2013.

Click for Details Co-occurrence score (risk) based on multi-year average whale density and fishing effort for 11 fisheries is shown for quarters three (Q3) and four (Q4) fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus). In Santa Barbara from July to December, there is an elevated risk area for multiple whale species with the California halibut/white seabass set gillnet, hagfish trap, rock crab trap, sablefish, spiny lobster trap, and spot prawn trap fisheries. For more information, consult Figure App.C.4.11b in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.

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Humpback
A map showing the risk posed to humpback whales from 11 fixed gear fisheries (a type of commercial fishing) in the Southern California Bight. Figure credit: Saez et al. 2013.

A map showing the risk posed to humpback whales from 11 fixed gear fisheries (a type of commercial fishing) in the Southern California Bight. Figure credit: Saez et al. 2013.

Click for Details Co-occurrence score (risk) based on multi-year average whale density and fishing effort for 11 fisheries is shown for quarters three (Q3) and four (Q4) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). In Santa Barbara from July to December, there is an elevated risk area for multiple whale species with the California halibut/white seabass set gillnet, hagfish trap, rock crab trap, sablefish, spiny lobster trap, and spot prawn trap fisheries. For more information, consult Figure App.C.4.11c in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.

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